What Should the Twins Do at First Base?

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

A quick check of his splits in Houston would suggest that is OPS fallout is not because of he is not hitting in Houston. 

Agreed. Last year Caratini’s away OPS split was .812 with a .633 OPS at home in Houston. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

In the short term, play Clemens. He's the best option. Long term? No idea. It seems like they most likely outcome is someone like Gonzalez or Mendez?

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

As for Royce - I would be somewhat surprised if he's on the roster next spring let alone on the roster and trying to learn a new position.

[farmerguychris]

I gotta say, I'm a fan of bringing up Fedko and/or Sabato to give them a try.  I think deep down, the leaders (minus the owner) know this team isn't doing anything great this year - why not try something new.  Once one of our current 1B gets injured (we know they love depth and will not release any of them), hopefully Fedko (who I prefer because can play multiple positions) or Sabato will surprise them and refuse to be sent back down.

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

A quick check of his splits in Houston would suggest that is OPS fallout is not because of he is not hitting in Houston. 

Agreed. Last year Caratini’s away OPS split was .812 with a .633 OPS at home in Houston. 

[amjgt]

41 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

For now, Clemens deserves to be the every day player there. He can be spelled against certain lefties. 

I know Clemens has a bright shiny OPS against lefties this season, but that's in a tiny sample size (20 PA).
His 2025 OPS against lefties was 0.482 (in 89 PA).

Playing Clemens against lefties feels like giving up. 

[DJL44]

There are other options on other AAA teams who could be acquired cheaply.

[rv78]

What the Twins "should" do at 1st base and what they "will" do at 1st base are 2 completely different things. Any major league team with aspirations of competing, (yeah - you Tom) wouldn't go into the season with Josh Bell, Victor Caratini and Kody Clemens as their options to play 1st base. Therefore, it really doesn't matter. This team isn't, wasn't, hasn't, been built to actually compete for years now. Not since Justin Morneau, have the Twins had a reliable every year 1st baseman, and he hasn't played since 2016, 10 years ago. Good job Falvey!

[amjgt]

4 minutes ago, rv78 said:

What the Twins "should" do at 1st base and what they "will" do at 1st base are 2 completely different things. Any major league team with aspirations of competing, (yeah - you Tom) wouldn't go into the season with Josh Bell, Victor Caratini and Kody Clemens as their options to play 1st base. Therefore, it really doesn't matter. This team isn't, wasn't, hasn't, been built to actually compete for years now. Not since Justin Morneau, have the Twins had a reliable every year 1st baseman, and he hasn't played since 2016, 10 years ago. Good job Falvey!

I would change that to say something more like "not since Joe Mauer retired after 2018"

Having 2014-2018 Joe Mauer holding down first base for the 2026 Minnesota Twins would be a welcome improvement. 

[Fatbat]

Someday the FO should just lean heavily into the farm system and let the chips fall. It worked in 1984-86. 

[farmerguychris]

I gotta say, I'm a fan of bringing up Fedko and/or Sabato to give them a try.  I think deep down, the leaders (minus the owner) know this team isn't doing anything great this year - why not try something new.  Once one of our current 1B gets injured (we know they love depth and will not release any of them), hopefully Fedko (who I prefer because can play multiple positions) or Sabato will surprise them and refuse to be sent back down.

[killercarewoliva]

7 hours ago, AJray15 said:

I do not understand why they’re refusing to call up Kyler Fedko. He’s hitting even better than he did last year and has experience at first base. Can be a platoon option with Clemens there and in the outfield with Larnach. It’s so confusing.

I was expecting more from him during spring training but if I recall correctly he barely got a hit. so if that regulation is correct, they're thinking about that?

[killercarewoliva]

7 hours ago, AJray15 said:

I do not understand why they’re refusing to call up Kyler Fedko. He’s hitting even better than he did last year and has experience at first base. Can be a platoon option with Clemens there and in the outfield with Larnach. It’s so confusing.

I was expecting more from him during spring training but if I recall correctly he barely got a hit. so if that regulation is correct, they're thinking about that?

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, amjgt said:

I would change that to say something more like "not since Joe Mauer retired after 2018"

Having 2014-2018 Joe Mauer holding down first base for the 2026 Minnesota Twins would be a welcome improvement. 

IDK about that.  Mauer's wRC+ over those 4 years was 103.  How is that really any better than Kody Clemmons?

[LA Vikes Fan]

Kody Clemens is fine for right now at first base but we all know he is not a long-term answer. He’s hit .255/.345/457 over his last 30 games (102 plate appearances) with a roughly 26% strike out rate. Add to that that he’s a very good to elite fielder at the position and he’s fine for right now. He’s 30 though, and this is as good as it’s ever gonna get.
 

The thing to do is bring up a younger player, preferably one who hits right handed, and see what they can do in a quasi platoon with Clemens, with an occasional day in the outfield.  Fedko seems like a good choice because he can also play OF, but I would prefer Gonzales because I think he has a much better chance of being a full-time MLB player in the future (and he’s on the 40 man). Let him get his feet wet by playing three days a week, two at first base and one in the outfield, and also pinch hitting. Create space for him by deciding between Outman and Kriedler and only keeping one. I vote for Kriedler.

And, by the way, DFA Luis Garcia, have Bowman take his 40 man spot and bring him up. Today so he’s available for tonight‘s bullpen game.